CALL: Councillors urge borough council to ‘get serious about Shepshed’

CALL: Councillors urge borough council to ‘get serious about Shepshed’

SHEPSHED needs more investment if it is to survive through the recession, according to local councillors.

County councillor Kevin Parker has now called for Charnwood Borough Council to do more to help the town.

He wants the council to adopt a five-point plan which would see a borough council funded loyalty card system where locals will get a discount for using local stores, a High Street brand store to bring more people and other smaller businesses back into the heart of Shepshed, a regular farmers’ market on all Bank holidays and St George’s Day incorporated into a regular calender of events, Town Centre CCTV and redevelopment of the Hall Croft.

“All this is achievable but Charnwood has to get serious about Shepshed,” he said.

“Don’t look at Shepshed Town Council to deliver these initiatives because it is only responsible for local parks and cemeteries and only has a budget of £300,000.

“People do believe in Shepshed but the borough council has to support them to do it.”

Meanwhile, Coun John Popley said one company had already shown interest in coming to the town but could not confirm who.

He said: “Like with the farmers’ market, we’re trying really hard to get it but it’s a job and a half to get the borough to even admit Shepshed needs more help.

“I would like to see Charnwood Borough Council get some kind of regeneration package that would allow new shops to come in without any rates for a number of years paid for by the EU.”

A spokeswoman for Charnwood Borough Council said: “Over the past 10 years the borough council has invested £230,000 alongside contributions from the county council, Shepshed Town Council, the Shepshed Traders Action Group and the regional development agency in improving Shepshed.

“Those works have included the refurbishment of the Hall Croft area and the enhancement of the Bull Ring. That investment is about to be complemented by the upgrading of the Glenmore Car Park at a cost of about £53,000.

“By such means as these it is expected that more people will be persuaded to make greater use of the town centre, supporting established businesses and encouraging others to invest in new businesses with the aim of building the centre that Shepshed deserves.”